Clinton stumps for Malloy in New Haven

Updated 11:32 pm, Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Former President Bill Clinton, center, stands with Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, left, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, during a campaign visit in support of the governor's re-election at the Omini Hotel in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

Former President Bill Clinton, center, stands with Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, left, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, during a campaign visit in support of the governor's re-election at the Omini Hotel in New Haven, Conn.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, left, greets former President Bill Clinton during a campaign visit in support of the governor's re-election at the Omini Hotel in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, left, greets former President Bill Clinton during a campaign visit in support of the governor's re-election at the Omini Hotel in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

A crowd of Malloy supporters listen to former President Bill Clinton during a campaign visit in support of the governor's re-election at the Omini Hotel in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

A crowd of Malloy supporters listen to former President Bill Clinton during a campaign visit in support of the governor's re-election at the Omini Hotel in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

NEW HAVEN -- It was a vintage political sermon, the gospel according to Bill Clinton.

There was the Fleetwood Mac soundtrack, the southern drawl, the call and response from the crowd and photos galore.

Back in the city where as a scruffy graduate student from Hope, Ark., he discovered the law -- and a future first lady named Hillary Rodham -- the 41st president tried to give Gov. Dannel P. Malloy a sorely-needed bounce Tuesday coming out of the Labor Day weekend for his imperiled re-election campaign.

"Based on what he has done, he should be elected by 10 points or more, going away," Clinton said during a noon fundraiser for the state Democratic Party at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale.

With national political handicappers calling the rematch between Malloy and his 2010 Republican opponent Tom Foley a toss-up, Democrats have brought in Vice President Joe Biden and Clinton in the past two weeks to try and turn the tide in Malloy's favor.

"I love Connecticut. You've been good to me," Clinton said. "I don't want you to take your eye off the tides."

To the lyrics of "Don't Stop," the 68-year-old former president-turned-humanitarian and expectant grandfather strode onto a podium, an entrance that sent the 300 to 400 Democrats in attendance into a frenzy, including Clinton's Yale Law School classmate and current U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

"You couldn't come out of a Labor Day better than we came out of today," Malloy, flashing an ear-to-ear grin, told reporters following the fundraiser.

Clinton called Malloy a man of conviction who hasn't shrunk from making hard choices to close budget deficits, pass worker protections and respond to gun violence.

"The lives and the future of the children of this state will be shaped dramatically by this election," Clinton said. "This state is too important to America. It plays above its weight in many ways."

A fundraising total was not available from the Connecticut Democrats, who set individual ticket prices at $50 for Clinton, a bargain compared to the $15,000 that the Democratic Governors Association commanded for a Biden reception and photo op in Greenwich last month.

Clinton, observing the first rule in campaigns, never referred by name to Foley, a former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and Greenwich private equity manager who lost to Malloy by 6,400 votes in 2010. He warned voters not to fall prey to vague promises made by Republicans.

"They tell voters you can eat all the candy you want and you'll never have to go to the dentist," Clinton said.

Foley's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Though Clinton can easily draw a crowd, Democrats did not reserve the biggest ballroom at the hotel for the midday, midweek event. Still, the crowd was not overflowing.

"It's great to have a former president visit our state -- and it's good for Connecticut," said Chris Cooper, campaign spokesman for Foley. "It also shows how desperate Dan Malloy is to bring in people he thinks can help him save his campaign, which has been plagued by his record-breaking tax increase in 2011 and his failed polices which have stalled economic growth, resulting in Connecticut having one of the worst job recovery rates in the nation."

Clinton's visit to Connecticut coincided with the release of a pair of television ads -- one by Foley's campaign defending his management tenure of a Georgia textile mill that went bankrupt and another by a super PAC funded by the Republican Governors Association accusing Malloy of reneging on his promise not to raise taxes.

"So he raised more revenue, but he did it from the people with more money," Clinton said.

Earlier in the day, Clinton dropped by unannounced at Katalina's bakery in New Haven, a business that received help from Malloy in the form of a $30,000 low-interest state loan under the Small Business Express Program. He was joined by Malloy, Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Connecticut's junior senator.

It was a reunion in many ways for Blumenthal and Clinton, who renewed their acquaintance last October when Hillary Rodham Clinton received the Yale Law School Association Award of Merit, a honor previously bestowed on her husband.

Blumenthal tried to introduce a little levity to the rally, alluding to the White House prospects of the former first lady, former U.S. senator and former U.S. secretary of state.

"I'd like to see more women in higher office, even in the highest office," Blumenthal said. "I hope that wasn't too subtle."

Toni Harp, the first woman mayor in New Haven's history, billed the rally as a homecoming.

"I should say homecoming for the first President Clinton," Harp told supporters.

John Olsen, a former president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO and former chairman of the state Democratic Party, said Clinton's visit is all about firing up Malloy's base and boosting turnout.

"He has a way of speaking very frank and direct," Olsen said. "Listen, I think we all could, for sure, use a boost because it's the midterm elections."